Brayden Maldonado Joins Other Redhawks in Transfer Portal, Seattle U Lands Division II Star

Seattle U Redhawks guard Brayden Maldonado (0) is fouled on the shot by Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Tyon Grant-Foster (7) in overtime at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga Bulldogs won 80-72 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

In the second week of the transfer portal being open for men’s college basketball, the Seattle Redhawks had four more players jump into the portal and coach Chris Victor made his first splash in landing a Division II Conference MVP.

Leading the Redhawks averaging 14 points per game as a senior, Brayden Maldonado entered the transfer portal Saturday with hopes of earning an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA. That request will still need to be granted, which isn’t a given, but the Second Team All-WCC selection will likely garner a lot of attention if he receives another year as one of the top point guards available.

With Maldonado most likely out the door and not expected to play an additional year of eligibility in Seattle, the Redhawks made a significant addition on Saturday morning to help replace him in landing redshirt sophomore Kaden Hansen.

Hansen spent the past three seasons at Saint Martin’s University, a Division II school in Lacey, Washington. He redshirted his freshman season and appeared in 17 games the next season, but broke onto the scene this past year for the Saints. He averaged 18.6 points and 2.7 steals while shooting 36% from three-point range on seven attempts per game. With those impressive numbers, he earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference MVP and lead Saint Martin’s to its first GNAC Championship.

A native of Auburn, Washington, Hansen received offers from Montana, UC Riverside and Portland State before ultimately staying closer to home by signing with Seattle.

Senior Jojo Murphy, sophomore Houran Dan, and freshman Stratos Papstravrou also entered the portal Friday. Murphy carved out a role as the backup point guard in his only season with Seattle U after spending the previous three with Chico State, while Dan played in 67 games across his two seasons with Seattle. With Austin Maurer and Brock Felder already in the portal, all three of the centers from the Redhawks’ rotation likely will be elsewhere next season. Papastavrou entered the portal after only appearing in four games as a freshman.